San Diego Airports Aren’t Leading Runway Incursions, FAA Data Show

(SAN DIEGO) San Diego airports are not at the top of the national list for high-risk runway incursions, according to the most recent FAA data and industry studies current through September 2025. While runway safety remains a national priority, the latest federal numbers show the highest recent incursion counts at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Boston Logan (BOS), and Chicago O’Hare (ORD). San Diego International Airport (SAN) does not appear among the airports with the highest totals in the current reports, and local operators have rolled out new systems to cut risks on the ground.

Runway incursions—when an aircraft, vehicle, or person is on a runway without authorization—drew national attention in 2023 after a series of near misses. Since then, the FAA and airport operators have invested in new tools and procedures to curb these events. Across the Core 30 airports, incursions fell from 362 in FY2023 to 345 in FY2024, continuing an improvement trend compared with pre-pandemic averages.

For people flying through San Diego airports, that means more ground safety technology in place and steady work behind the scenes to reduce confusion where aircraft taxi, take off, and land.

What the latest FAA data shows

The FAA’s most recent report for FY2024 lists DFW, BOS, and ORD with the highest numbers of incursions among major U.S. hubs. San Diego International Airport is not on that high-incursion tier in the dataset.

Nationally, the year-over-year drop across the Core 30 suggests safety programs are gaining traction. General aviation fields—airports serving private and training flights—continue to see the most incursions overall due to heavy training traffic and complex ground layouts. Examples include Dekalb–Peachtree near Atlanta and North Las Vegas.

In San Diego County, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, a general aviation field, launched a new incursion prevention system in 2025, the first of its kind at a U.S. general aviation airport.

San Diego’s major commercial hub has not been identified as the highest-risk facility in recent national studies. Still, officials stress that even one incursion is one too many. Improved surface awareness, clearer signage, and faster alerts to controllers and pilots all matter—especially while construction reshapes ground routes near gates and taxiways.

Surface Awareness Initiative and related tech

The FAA has been rolling out its Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI), a program launched in late 2023 to boost real-time tracking at airports that lack advanced surveillance. Contracts in April 2024 set deployments at locations such as Nashville, Austin, and Miami Executive Airport.

Key points about SAI:
– Uses ADS-B (an aircraft tracking signal) to deliver updates to controllers in about a second.
– Helps controllers spot surface conflicts sooner.
– Deployed under a leasing model—vendors install and maintain systems, speeding deployment and quality checks.

Industry leaders, including Rob Brown of Saab Inc., say the faster update rate is making day-to-day operations safer and more predictable in busy movement areas.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the focus on surface safety has grown alongside a broader push by Congress and the FAA following the 2023 spike in near misses. The 2024 FAA reauthorization law calls for more funding, oversight, and technology to reduce runway incursions, with attention to airports in California. This policy focus aligns with investments already underway at San Diego airports, where infrastructure upgrades and new systems pair with training and clearer procedures.

Operational changes travelers will notice

Construction at SAN is changing how people move around terminals and the roads near the airport. As part of the New Terminal 1 project:

• The arrivals roadway between Terminals 1 and 2 closed on September 8, 2025.
• The existing Terminal 1 is scheduled for permanent closure on September 22, 2025.
• The project supports a long-term plan that runs through 2028.

During this period, expect detours, new drop-off and pick-up areas, and frequent updates to signs and shuttle routes. While these changes focus on roadway and terminal work, they also affect how ground crews and pilots manage movements near work zones—directly tying into runway incursion prevention.

Practical steps for travelers:
– Follow posted signs and staff directions, especially when ground routes shift.
– Use shuttle services where offered and leave extra time to reach gates.
– Listen to announcements about gate changes or taxi delays caused by construction.
– If connecting to general aviation services or training flights at local fields, ask your operator about current ground procedures and hot spots.

Who’s managing the changes and where to get updates

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority oversees both SAN and Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport and leads these updates. Board members include:
– Monica Montgomery Steppe (County Supervisor)
– Steve Vaus (Poway Mayor)
– Whitney Benzian (Coronado)

The authority shares frequent notices on road closures, terminal moves, and project timelines. For real-time information, contact:
– Nicole Hall, Senior Communications Specialist: 619.400.2859 or 858.531.2863, [email protected]
– Airport Communications Center (after hours): 619.400.2710
– Official updates: https://www.san.org

On-the-ground safety measures and operational habits

Behind the scenes, pilots and controllers are adapting to a growing set of tools aimed at reducing runway incursions. These include:
– Improved markings and lighting
– Clearer taxi instructions
– Surface surveillance that spots conflicts early

At Montgomery-Gibbs, the new prevention system adds protection for busy training patterns and mixed traffic, which can raise the chance of a ground error. The early-mover status of this San Diego field shows how local operators are adopting technology that many general aviation airports will likely take on over the next two years.

Both the FAA and the International Civil Aviation Organization call incursions a steady threat to flight safety. Common risks include:
– Missed hold-short lines
– Taxi route confusion
– Vehicles or people crossing active areas without clearance

Lowering these risks requires both technology and strong operational habits, such as:
1. Readback of clearances
2. Sterile cockpit rules during taxi
3. Strict control of vehicle access

As more airports add SAI and related systems, controllers will have a faster, clearer picture of surface movements—especially at night or in low visibility.

Broader implications and timelines

FAA data shows that while large hubs draw headlines, many incursions happen at training fields. That’s why Montgomery-Gibbs’ technology matters beyond San Diego: a prevention tool that works in a training environment can reduce risk quickly across dozens of similar airports.

The FAA is working with vendors such as Saab, Indra, and uAvionix to deliver these systems on faster timelines, with ongoing performance checks.

Key timelines to note:
– SAI deployments planned to reach more airports, including in California, through 2026
– New Terminal 1 work at SAN continues through 2028
– September 22, 2025: scheduled permanent closure of the existing Terminal 1

Important takeaways:
– San Diego airports are improving surface safety and are not among the highest-incursion hubs nationally.
– Investments combine federal programs, local upgrades, and technology to reduce runway and taxiway conflicts.
– Travelers should plan ahead for construction-related changes—especially around the Terminal 1 moves.

For policy tracking and program updates, the FAA’s runway safety page is a helpful starting point: https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety.

San Diego airports remain active construction sites with a growing set of safety tools, but they’re not topping national charts for high-risk incursions. The path forward blends hardware, training, and clear rules of the road to keep ground operations safe while the region’s main gateway grows. Travelers should build in buffer time, rely on official channels for the latest changes, and expect gradual improvements in taxi flows and fewer last-second route changes as these systems and procedures take hold.